Suspender adjusting device



Feb. 26, 1935.

J. M. CLARK SUSPENDER ADJUSTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 17, 1933 Mllmks5209222571 7?, M Clark.

gy" GMW PatentedvFeb. 26, 1935 i :UNITED Asmrrlazs ssrcNDERAnJUs'rINa"inivr'onffL c John M. Clark. Detroit, Mich., assignor to`Uni` versal Button Fastening `atV Button Company, Detroit,1Mich., acorporation of Michigan VApplication January y17, 1933, SerialNo."6'52,1'l0v 4` claims; (c1. 2443) This invention relates to Suspenderadjusting j devices, andamong other objects aims to 4provvide acompactandinexpensive devicefor securing a suspender strap.

,5 Y `'The nature of the invention may be readily understoodby referenceto one illustrative construction embodying the `invention and shown inthe accompanying drawing.

ln said drawing: c Fig. v1` is an elevation of the device; `E'g..2 is avertical section of thedevice taken approximately on the p1ane2`2 of;Fig. lillustrating the barsdrawn together to grip asuspender strap whentension isapplied thereto; Fig..3` is a view illustrating how the slidep0rtioncf the device may flex or hinge relative to the' button loopsoasnot to transmit any detachingiorce thereto; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the device taken approximatelyon theplane 4-4 of Fig. l.

The illustrative device combines in one `unit 10 the functions of aso-called suspender slide anda suspender loop by which the suspender maybe releasably secured or connected vto the garment, as for exampleLthebib l1 of a' pair of overalls. The slide element permitsadjustment ofthe length of the suspender strap. The com# bined slide and 'loop isadvantageouslymade of wire which in the present instance is about .080to .085 inch in diameter. The Wire is preferably brass plated orotherwise coatedto provide an attractive as well as a protective finish.

The combined unit is here shown as comprising Va frame 12 madeA ofjwirebent `into a gener-t ally rectangular shape and having its extremitiesterminating atthe lower side of4 the loop in spaced eyes 13 formed toprovide transversely elongated eyeopnings 14 whose lower sides 15incline or diverge downwardly. Connected with 40 the sides 16 of theslide frame, in this instance by eyes 17 and 18 which embrace the sidesof the slide frame, is a pair of parallel bars 19 and 20 around whichthe suspender strap 21 is adapted to be threaded forpurposes ofadjustment and attachment to the device. As here sh0wn,.the lower bar isfreely movable up and down the sides of the slide frame and is capableof a slight axial rotation relative to such frame by reason of the factthat the eyes 18 are somewhat larger than the diameter of the sides ofthe frame. Teethv 22 may advantageously be formed in bar 20 in suchposition as to engage the suspender strap and to cooperate in`preventing slippage. In the present instance the grip- V ping teeth arerounded and formed by pinchingV -to `be shifted relative thereto.

greater freedom for insertion of the button head.

.out integral portions .of` the metal` of the bar. The upper bar 19ishere shown held against displacement in thefframe of the slide byhaving its eyes embraceinwardly offset portions .23y of the sides oftheframe which serve to prevent e movement of the eyes -along the framesides.

As illustrated in Fig.j2,thev suspender strap is threaded betweenthe'top 24 ofV the slide'frame andthe barf19., thence around thelowerbar. 20 and over the upper bar 19` in directv engagement l0 withthe latter andundern-eath the other strand of' the suspender strapTension-applied to the strap causes the lower bar 20 toV rise, therebygripping the suspender. strap tightly between the Y bars. Where teethare, employed on the lower l5 barthe latter also cooperate to preventslippage, although without them thesuspender'strap is undoubtedly;gripped so tightly between the bars as -to preclude any slippage oralteration of adjustmentin the suspender' strap length. Adjust# ment ofthe strapmay be easily made' by relaxing. tensionV .thereonr and .bypermitting the bars to separate sufliciently to allow the suspenderstrap The capacity of the bars to separate also facilitatesl the initial'25 assembly ofc the suspender `strapgand` adjusting device attheifactory. Y f A Hinged to the lower portion of the slide, in thiscase to the eyes 13, is a button engaging loop 25 provided with eyes-26`which loosely embrace the lower sides 15 of the eyes. v The upper orslide portion of the device is-therefore-free to flexrelative tothebutton engaging loop 25 and `therefore `does not tend to pry the latterfrom the button ori-transmit aA downward detaching force thereto whenthe suspender strap becomes slack. Insteadwhen the suspender strap be-.comes slack, theloop 25 is allowed to remain in its normal Vpositionand the slide may flex forwardly relative thereto, c Y

The loop is applied to a button bypassing the button head (see Fig. '2)through the space 27 between the loop and the lower bar; the latter l in`this case may be raised if `necessary to allow The shank of the buttonVis then caused to pass through the restricted space 28 between the eyes13 `into loop 25 which is substantially smaller than the button head toprevent the button head from escaping. In normal or unstrained conditionthe restricted. space 28 between the eyes 13 is substantially narrowerthan the diameter of the button shank to prevent accidental passage ofthe button from the button loop into the space 27 (in the event ofslacking ot thesuspender 55 strap, as when the wearer bends over) wherethe loop may become detached from the button. The portions of the wireimmediately above yand below the restricted space 28 are preferablycurved as at 29 and 30 to providecam surfaces to be engaged by thebutton shank to force the eyes 13 Vsufciently apart to allow the buttonshank to pass. The natural stiffness of the wire is however suificienttoprevent such separation of' the eyes accidentally. The application` ofmanual force is necessary to cause the button shank toipass'either vinto or out of the loop. ,The sidesl ofV theV framenot being rigidlyheldv by the bar -are free to flex upon separation ofy theeyes 13./asthe'button shank passes ,between them. Itewill` be noted that the eyes'26 of the button loop .are

separated suinciently not to interfere with the yielding movements ofthe eyes 13 as the shank of Ythe button passes between them.

VWhen tension is placed upon the button and the button loop 25, theeyes'26 tend to' slide down the inclined or divergingrportionsll of theeyes 13, thus setting up a positive rcomponent of force which tendstopress the' eyes `13 together and to maintain the space 28 in restrictedcondition. Release of such tension of course leavesthe eyes free .tolflexasiaforesaid. Y

Vslacking ofthe tension in the'su'spender' strap (as when thewearer'bends over) leaves the lower bar free to descend lsomewhat to aposition underneath the edge oi the button head and to cooperate toprevent accidental detachment of the button fromlthe loop;

Cost of manufacturevis'substantially Alessened by eliminating the"necessity of makingr a closed frame for the slide wherein the ends ofthewire would have to be welded or otherwise fastened together.I Suchweld Yusually occurs in the top bar, making it desirable to conceal thelatter.

In the present instance these ends are bent to f form the elongated eyesY13, and the top portion of the slide frame containing noijoint, neednot beconcealed. l

Obviously the invention is not limited to the details `of theillustrative construction since these Vmay be variouslyrnodied. Moreoverit is not indispensable'that all features of the invention be usedconjointly since various features may be used toadvantage in differentcombinations Y and sub-combinations.

Y Havinggdescribed my invention, I claim:

, l. An article of the'character described comprising 'a rectangularwire frame having sides and ends, the ends of the wire terminating atoneendfof said framel and being respectively formed into spaced eyes, abutton loop hinged to said eyes, and a pair of parallel bars connectedto the sides of Vsaid frame andextending transversely across said frame,the lower one of said Ybars being loosely connected to the sides of theframe to leave the latter free to flex as a button passes between saideyes.

` 2. An article of manufacture comprising a generally rectangular wireframe Vhaving sides and ends, the ends of the wire forming the frameterminating at one endof the frame-'in spaced eyes, a pair ofupper andlower spacedy Parallel bars connected to the sides of the frame andextending transversely across the frame, the lower sidesof said eyesdiverging downwardly,4 and a button loop hinged to the lower sides ofsaid eyes whereby tension applied to said loop tends to draw said eyestogether, the said lower bar loosely embracing` theV sides of said frameto allow the sametoyleld freely upon movement of saidV eyes.

3. An article oi manufacture comprisingy a rectangular frame havingsides and endsV and formed from relatively stiff but resilient wirewhose ends terminate at one end of the frame in spaced relationship, apair of parallel bars ex#Y to the spaced portions to compensate for the`stiffness of the wire and allow resilient separation of said spacedportions upon passage of a button shankper." v Y fl. Asuspendergadjusting device comprising a generally rectangular framehaving sides and ends, the lower end of said frame having spacedrterminals, a pair of vparallel bars extending trans'- versely thereof,the upper one lof said bars vbe- "P ing fastened to the sides of saidframe so as not to vmove vertically therein, the lower one of said barsloosely engaging the Vsides of said' frame and Ybeing movable verticallytherein to cooperate with the other bar in gripping a suspender strap,the sides of said frame below the Vupper bar providing elongatedyielding means to allow said terminals to be separated,1and a buttonloop hinged to the terminals at the lower side of the said frame, saidmovable lowerbar being adapted to drop when thel suspender strapA isslackened' into proximity'with the button loop.

JOHN M. oLARK.

